In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order.
—Carl Jung (1875–1961)

ome recent discussions by members of the antenna-discussion list triggered some memories of various claimed antenna developments over the years. The subject of the discussion boiled down to one word: scams. Not every new offering of a new (or seemingly new) antenna, device, or technique is a scam. But, then, not every new (or seemingly new) antenna, device, or technique is a genuine innovation. At antenneX, we usually refer to something new and not yet understood as a “device” until it proves itself to be an antenna.

What we now call a scam involves a falsification of information in order to convince people that something is true and that they should act on the information. The action most desired is to have people spend money on some product or service. However, in the realm of politics, the desired action may be a simple vote. However, we shall stick to antenna-related matters.

Falsifications cover a wide territory. Some may involve simply selecting the facts that favor an idea or product and omitting the facts that are unfavorable. This practice is a common marketing ploy, especially in the field of antennas for amateur radio use. Those who design and sell Yagis and other beams often give a single gain figure for each band covered, followed by another single value for the front-to-back ratio. However, for virtually any parasitic beam, both figures will vary considerably over the bandwidth of most amateur bands. What turns this marketing ploy into at least a bit of a scam is that the beam sellers could easily provide gain and front-to-back curves or tables for each band covered by the antenna.

At the other end of the scale, we find systematically false information used to sell an idea or product. Numerous tiny antennas have been shown not to work as advertised, but to rely instead on the radiation from the feedline for any communications that emerge. The evidence is clear: heavily isolate the feedline from the antenna device and the radiated energy goes close to zero. What is most fascinating about many of these would-be antennas is the fact that those who sell them continue to advertise as if the tests had not taken place.

That thought leads us to the mentality of those who wittingly or unwittingly perpetrate scams. Once we reach the marketing stage of a product, many antenna companies simply take it as a matter of course that showing off the product in the most favorable light is desirable and acceptable from both engineering and ethical perspectives. Thus, data selection (and suppression) becomes a way of life.

At the other end of our realm, some idea sellers maintain a firm belief in their products and ideas, even in the face of clear and unambiguous tests and analyses that show significant deficiencies in them. Somewhere in the middle are those who gradually realize that they have been on the wrong track, but who tenaciously continued to act as if they are still right. In some cases, a profit motive overrides logic and evidence. In other cases, an idea may persist simply because its developer cannot face the embarrassment of having been so wrong.

The methods of developing false or misleading data are many. As both consumers and experimenters, we should be alert to as many of the techniques as possible. The idea of data selection is only one way to create a favorable misimpression. Another way is to use anecdotal accounts rather than systematic design and testing information. Therefore, we see many ads and brochures that live on testimonials from unqualified users rather than on engineering reports.

We also uncover a large array of other forms of selectivity. Some manufacturers of so-called wide-band antennas that cover the entire HF range show only elevation patterns in their brochures, even though they are selling horizontal antennas. These patterns obscure that fact that, as we raise the operating frequency, an antenna’s pattern breaks into multiple lobes that may not serve the communication needs of the user.

Still others hide under the term “proprietary” to conceal the foundations of their products and ideas, even when dealing with government and military agencies. In fact, some resort to downright misleading practices, such as creating software models that give enhanced performance numbers in the usually correct belief that purchasing representatives will not understand the modeling process well enough to critique the received information. In some cases, we meet with vast gaps in the progression of logic and mathematics between the idea’s foundation and its implementation. The CFA antenna, which has yet to live up to its claims when placed under strict engineering tests, also shows a vast gap between the initial manipulations of Maxwell’s Laws and the calculations supposedly leading to setting up the antenna for proper operation.

The old scientific and engineering principle that experiments must lend themselves to replication by other investigators is one guide to separating the scam from the genuine innovation. One illuminating case comes from a successful new idea. A company produces AM broadcast antennas, mostly for the lower-power market, that consist of 4 inverted-L structures, where the vertical sections are fed in phase and are in close proximity—for example, as wires on 4 sides of a non-conductive central pole. The horizontal sections form a symmetrical collection and act like the top hat of a single monopole: the horizontal components of the radiation pattern cancel each other. The idea for the antenna appeared in a refereed journal (itself no guarantee of correctness) with enough detail to allow replication by anyone wishing to try. In antenneX, we featured not only a 160-meter version of the antenna, but as well, a modification that would further shrink the overall acreage needed for the antenna. In other cases, we have run collections of articles—for example, on the prismatic polyhedron—that include both fundamental design information and laboratory experiments confirming both the principles and practicalities of the antenna idea.

Note that in these cases of true innovation, the design data provided were sufficient to allow replication and testing. As well, the testing has been carried out by qualified people (and not by unqualified end-users) and by standard methods in which we may have confidence. In some cases, such as the 4-way inverted-L, the theory of operation is very clear. In other cases, such as the prismatic polyhedron, the theory may undergo evolution over time. Ultimately, however, no gap remains between the basis of the idea and its successfully tested implementations. Moreover, the operational information is complete—or we may easily complete it.

These last cases show some of the hallmarks of genuine innovation. Most of these items are lacking in scams that range from outright fraud in some cases to marketplace shenanigans in other. When you go to buy any product, the old saying caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) always applies. It equally applies when buying into ideas, so always be aware that possible scams lurk among the good intentions!

We are pleased to announce a new product to be released on CD-ROM in a few days! It is one of the most unique programs I've seen dealing with the dynamic motions of propagation.

Having precise information of where to find the sunrise and sunset zones is a must for the eager DX chasing radio ham. These zones have specified propagation properties and characteristics that lead to long distance communication possibilities with strong signal strength quality. It will be for sure a great help today’s time year 2006 with its low Sun activity period. The highest HF radio ham bands are mostly closed now and this for some coming years too. So, many hams are more frequently using the lower HF bands and these bands are in good shape now at this period to make exciting DX contacts. Knowledge of the "grayzone" and dark hours locations worldwide is a must to succeed on these bands.

Solution: enter the Grayline Program developed by our resident propagation expert and columnist, Marcel De Canck, ON5AU. Along with his now famous use of propagation animation wizards, one is able to follow the "grayline" as it progresses around the globe in live-like motion (note the grayline/grayzone in the above graphic). It's an amazing piece of work by Marcel and I for one am proud of the unique effort and endeavor for perfection evident in this program. antenneX takes on selective-only products to distribute and we have selected this one because we have known Marcel and his works in this field for many years and believe it is a most useful program for those interested in getting more from their signals.

Be sure and watch for the announcement when this new product is released next week (1st week of December 2006). You'll be glad you did!

THE PURPOSE OF THIS JOURNAL
In my column for September 2006, “The antenneX Mission,” I wrote about a subject close to my heart — the purpose of this journal. It had been quite some time since I had reminded our readers of our original purpose when we set out some 20 years ago.

More than anything else, this journal has always been a “labor of love” for me. It is the reason I founded the antenneX magazine almost 20 years ago, knowing that running a magazine is a tough business and especially so since I planned to do it without the traditional revenue support from advertisers or outside investors. I wanted this magazine to always be able to write about any issue without concerns of losing the support from any of those type revenues. I am pleased to say, we have never steered from that course one iota. And, as a consequence, we have covered some very controversial developments throughout the past two decades. In the process, we have provided valuable factual information to more than 200 countries, even to the most remote regions of the globe. Hence, our readers are much more informed about the truth about all of the “new” devices as their stories unfolded in the antenna and antenna-related field. For more details, you are encouraged to read my column from September 2006.

Additionally, we were pleased to receive and publish in the October 2006 issue, a very special editorial reaction to my column written by one of our long-term readers and contributors, Dr. Jef Verborgt. Those two articles are located by the following links below:

VISIT THE GUEST ROOMS
The relentless attacks on our web site by pirates and the like has made it necessary to add more security to protect our material against such piracy. It's only fair that we know who enters the House of antenneX, so our guests will need to provide some minimal information in the process of obtaining a login. This includes using your real active email address without which a login cannot be received. Do not confuse this login with a paid subscription login. They are not the same and your subscriber login will NOT work in the Guest Room areas. Of course, you may choose to create your own login to the Guest Rooms using the same login as your subscription, if the system will accept it.

Along with the continuing fight against spam/virii junk, protecting our material and valuable bandwidth against piracy takes up a great amount of our time—time we can't really spare. The Internet is simply not the friendly neighborhood it used to be in the "old days" and more and more security must be installed to counteract these intruders. Thus, we have made the access to the Guest Rooms as automatic as possible for you to manage your own login.

In view of the above, we have overhauled the numerous free and open-access sections that have always been wide open to all of our friends throughout the many years antenneX has been online. But, we must change with the times as the need dictates. I don't think the Internet will become more friendly in the near future and protected sites with logins are fast becoming the rule rather than the exception. To repeat, most would like to know who they invite into their house. The same applies at the House of antenneX. It's really worth the effort!

We have activated a new login system for access to the above guest rooms — and, the login can be totally managed by our guests. Above is a graphic of what you see as a login page to the new consolidated area, "antenneX Guest Rooms." This new page for logins is at this location now and available for your use:

As a result of this new programming, you will be able to obtain your own login, change it to update your info, change your password and delete membership if & when you desire without our help. Of course, the bottom link on the new page provides help if you still need it.

AN INVITATION TO CONTRIBUTORS
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antenneX thrives on the contributions of antenna experimenters, ranging from the informal home shop construction project to the theoretical investigation of basic antenna, feedline, and propagation phenomena. Over the years, we have published articles on the use of new or newly adapted materials, known antennas adapted to new circumstances, modifications of antenna structures, basic explorations of both common and unusual antennas, antenna modeling exercises, design improvements, antenna matching techniques from both a physical and mathematical perspective, evaluations of mini-antennas and their underlying theory of operation, new and patentable designs, propagation tutorials, and.... The list goes on, since no antenna-related topic is irrelevant to the readers of antenneX.

At the same time, antenneX has experienced continuous growth in its readership—for which we are appreciative. However, all readers can help us do even better. How? By submitting an article every now and then based on your current antenna work that may be useful at any level to other readers.

Among the engineering and researching readers, there are undoubtedly a number of unclassified and non-proprietary findings that antenneX readers would like to know. Among the practical antenna designers, there are ideas, tests, and numerous other practical findings to benefit our readers. Antenna builders very likely have some techniques to share with other readers. Besides the regular articles, we always have the home work shop column for shorter practical ideas and we always have the invited news and editorial column for information about new technologies, future advances, lost old but good ideas, and personal views on the good to bad things that are happening in the world of antennas and propagation.

If you are uncertain about whether your ideas merit an article, please feel free to send an outline to the general editor/publishers at manuscripts at antennex.com . Do not feel that you must be ready to be a regular submitter to write for antenneX, because we welcome the individual contribution as much as monthly articles. As well, do not believe that the slots in each issue are already spoken for—we shall always make room for a worthy article.

Sneaking Up on 2-Element Common-Feed Quads
Part 2: Dual Band Quad Beams With Separate Feedpoints
By L.B. Cebik, W4RNL

In Part 1 of this series, we defined our basic question about common-feedpoint multi-band quads this way:
What happens when we create a multi-band quad and provide it with a common driver feedpoint for all bands?

We also set some limits to the exploration so that we might reduce the task to manageable proportions. We set a 2-band limit for the multi-band quads, although we shall examine one violation of the limit in this part. We also set a minimum frequency ratio of 1.3:1 between the bands included in the dual-band quads. (However, looking at adjacent upper HF ham-band combination might itself make a good study for the future.) We also noted the need to proceed in stages, looking at dual-band quads of 2 elements each using separate feedpoints for each band before we move on to joining the feedpoints. Our goal is to isolate insofar as possible whatever phenomena (physical or electrical) may be functions of using a common feedpoint and which may result simply from placing 2-element quad beams concentrically on a single support system.

Coaxial Cable Delay Measurements - Part II
By Jacques Audet, VE2AZX

Last month, I reported the results of measurements on a number of coaxial cables with the VNA (Vector Network Analyzer). This month, I describe the measurement technique and theory behind these measurements. I will also try to give an insight on what is happening.
The distributed inductance and capacitance are the basic transmission line parameters. From these, we can calculate the line impedance, the delay in terms of time and phase, the speed of propagation and the velocity factor. The inductive component has an additional component at the lower frequencies, which slows the signal somewhat. This occurs around 100 kHz for small coax and lower for larger cables. For frequencies above 1 MHz, the dielectric constant of the cable is probably responsible for the decrease in the delay. Measuring the delay of cables can reveal some “hidden” properties that could make it unsuitable for some applications, such as carrying wideband data.

80–10 Meter Antenna System Impedance Matching: Part 5
By Fred M. Griffee, N4FG (EE Retired)

In my previous article, I mention the 4:1 Ruthroff rod or core balun and some of its salient characteristics. This time, I discuss this popular balun. Another 1:1 balun, a Ruthroff design, is a trifilar winding and is described by Sevick.

Various baluns are explored when using an unbalanced matching network and show the often-described “inconsequential loss” that I do not wish to experience. Different types of rod and core materials are explored and tried with the usual recommended winding designs. It is shown that losses do occur and also that an SWR of 1:1 or very close to that ratio, can be obtained while high loss is present. Line current meters are discussed and shown to be a very important addition to an antenna tuner, especially when balanced feed is employed.

I use my balanced pi-matching network as a reference and compare other approaches using unbalanced tuners with its excellent characteristics. It is shown, quite clearly, that the balanced PI or T-matching network is still the better choice for my antenna system (and no doubt many others using balanced lines) when compared to the many available approaches. Again, my pi-matching network becomes part of the transmission line and experiences an effective lengthening or shortening of the line in addition to its salient impedance varying characteristics.

Radiation in the Near Zone of a Center-Fed Linear Antenna
By Kirk T. McDonald
Joseph Henry Laboratories, Princeton University

The electromagnetic fields far from any antenna can be conveniently described as the sum of the radiation fields of a series of oscillating point multipoles, of which the leading term is a dipole in many cases of practical interest. The form of the fields associated with the nth multipole is independent of the details of the physical layout of the antenna (other than that the layout determines the magnitudes of the multipole moments). However, close to the antenna the electromagnetic fields include quasistatic components as well as radiation terms. A well-known argument due to Hertz gives the fields in the near and far zone of an ideal point dipole. In this and two companion notes we explore examples in which analytic expression can be given for the near and far zone fields of antennas of finite dimensions. Here, the task is to describe the electromagnetic fields and the Poynting vector, produced by oscillating currents of angular frequency w that flow along a pair of conductors of length a each, that are fed by, say, a coaxial cable at their common ends.

A Question of BALUNS
By Tom Cox, KT9OM

So, what is a BALUN, anyway, and why do I need to know? Like many antenneX readers, I dabble with antennas, and you can’t dabble very deeply before you come across the term, “BALUN,” and maybe even “UNUN.” At some point, I conceded that I needed to know more about BALUNs, UNUNS and like devices, so I can decide what, if any, of these devices need to be between my next antenna project and its feed line. Learning about BALUNs and their ilk, and even building and testing a few, are how this article came to be.

Antennas are a familiar mystery, at least for those of us antenneX readers who are not engineers and scientists, but who play with radio and occasionally build an antenna. Familiar, because we use them every day. Mysterious, because the predicted behavior of an antenna doesn’t always materialize in the real world, and because there are intangibles to consider, even when the antenna has the good grace to act the way we expect it to.

Atoms, Electrons, and Photons, Oh My! Yes, usually that’s where the mysteries begin to surface. You may not spend serious time contemplating what actually happens at the level of atoms of copper playing host to electrons and emitting photons, while your antenna project still results in a QSL card from the other side of the world. However, there are invisible but important details of antenna behavior that matter — a great deal.

A 2-METER EXTENDED DOUBLE ZEPP WITH STINGER
By Chuck Templeman, W2EHE

Here's a pretty good 2-meter antenna for those who would like an inexpensive yet robust 2-meter vertical antenna with an omni pattern, some gain and good bandwidth. MININEC simulations show this antenna has over 10-dBi omni-directional gain with an SWR of 1.7:1 or less across the 2-meter band.

How about three (3) - 5/8’s wave main elements stacked vertically in a collinear array? It comes in at just about fifteen (15) feet tall and should not need guy wires unless you live in a very high wind area and even then, I doubt that guy lines are necessary. It's constructed of Schedule 40 PVC and aluminum/copper sticky backed tape as used in the heating and air conditioning business. The PVC and aluminum tape are both available at your friendly supply stores like ACE, Home Depot, Lowe's. The rest of the parts are probably available in your (or a friend’s) junk drawer. If not, they can be purchased new in most places.

Well, there you have it, folks—thanks for listening and remember, the reading lamp is always on for you in the reading rooms. If I can be of further help, I'm just a Stone's Throw! away.-30-

Best reGARDS, Jack L. Stone, Publisher
jack@antennex.com
December 2006 antenneX Online Issue #116